This Week's Leaders

Low AMH Level

Re: Low AMH Level

@meggiehibs no we didn’t do PGT as we didn’t even want to risk a tiny chance to either throw away an embryo that might have worked or lose any due to the biopsy procedure. We need every .1% chance we can get.I’m already on an anti inflammatory protocol for the transfer. The only thing that works is doing long term Lupron - which is not possible whilst pregnant and we did one month before transfer (which basically lasted about 5 weeks in the end - hopefully long enough)

@lucyb1954 there is not much they can do. We need to watch it, rest is the first treatment. If later in the pregnancy it starts to interfere with the placenta then they can in extreme cases look to cauterize any linked blood vessels. But that would be a last resort.

My check up today looked good. No more spotting. Adeno hasn’t grown since last Friday.Also little one has grown 0.5mm in 4 days! Now 1.9mm and perfectly on track for 8+3. It had flipped around since Friday and the eye socket was much clearer plus arm and leg were jiggling (well the pixels on the US... but you know what I mean)I was extra relieved as DH couldn’t make it back last night to be here as the appointment was 7am (great fun with full on nausea to get up that early!)We also had the big discussion on first trimester screening and NIPT. We will do both - and will use harmony for NIPT incl the sex chromosome analysis (not only the three trisomies). And we’ve timed it so we will have the harmony and other blood results before we do the nuchal translucency scan so we can look at that with extra info to guide the interpretation. Next follow up is next Tuesday- until then I’m on the couch!

@hopefuljj No, I haven't gotten them back yet! Thursday will be 3 weeks so it really should be anytime now. Transfer is officially three weeks from today and it can't come soon enough. Yayy that your beta is soon!! Have you tested at home or are you holding off? Sending you seriously every positive thought I have!!

@lucyb1954 oh my gosh I knoww! I keep looking at the calendar 50 times a day like somehow the days are magically going to change and go by faster. I really hope your blood draw goes well on Friday! It would be so fun to have you as a transfer buddy!

@emmasemm glad Lil bean is doing well each US is amazing and ull always be a nervous wreck! Hoping rest will clear things up. Love all ur knowledge and how u always kmow what I’m thinking. Can this resolve itself the same as some sch do? 1/2 way through the 1st trimester I’m so excited!!! I hope u enjoy the rest! Lord knows u deserve it!! As scary as the spotting is I did it through half my pregnancy and it was still ok.

@meggiehibs welcome to the low amh party!! It’s crazy that when u do a search this thread comes up as there’s still not enough education out there...I did the same thing as u back in 2016 and read it like a novel! I was excited there was success and continues to be success through the struggles! Good luck on ur upcoming transfer!!

@meggiehibs Welcome to the group and wishing you lots of success for your transfer on Aug 20. Finally hit the month of August so not too much longer.

@hopefuljj PASP, hope you are doing well and glad the transfer went well. Are you going to be doing any HPT prior to the beta?

@emmasemm So happy to hear of your progress and the baby is right on track. Sorry to hear about the issue but glad that maybe some nice relaxation and bed rest can possibly alleviate the issue. How are you feeling otherwise? Any morning sickness?

@lucyb1954 I hear you! The months that get lost without a cycle because our body is not doing what we want it to be doing is so frustrating. Hoping all gets better and you can start a new cycle soon.

Hopeful_mom How are you? How is the little one doing? Hope all is well and you were not hit with the heat wave that is going on.

Imajin99andreamm31 - Re: looking for a donor. As far as personality goes, at first I was looking for someone with all the exact same personality traits as me and I was striking out. Then I read what I feel was some great advice: You shouldn't look for someone just like you personality-wise, because there is only one of you, but rather look for someone that you could see yourself being friends with. Not sure if that makes sense, but it changed my perspective a lot. I stopped looking for an exact copy of myself (since that person doesn't exist), but just someone who had enough positive traits and that I got a good enough vibe from that I could see myself really getting along with her. Regarding looks, I chose a few "must have" traits that were important to me b/c they are common to everyone in my family (tall, light-colored eyes), and beyond that looked for someone who doesn't necessarily look just like me (b/c again, there is only one me) but rather could maybe pass for my cousin, that kind of thing. I also was looking for someone who was objectively attractive because hey why not. Lastly, I had a failed cycle with my first fresh donor so after that it was really important to me to go with a proven donor which I did.

I have a 6 month old DE baby and would be happy to answer questions about it for those who are considering going that route. Lord knows the girls on these boards helped me get through so much!

hopefuljj - Did I read this correctly that you have a beta tomorrow?? If so, GO GIRL! I have everything crossed for you

@emmasemm - Congrats to you!! Ahhhh, how exciting. Can't wait for more updates.

lucyb1954 - Ugh, hang in there. This stuff is so frustrating I know. Hopefully they can salvage this cycle, sending positive vibes your way.

@emmasemm- gosh I am So happy things are going good for you and baby!! Glad you are home and taking it easy. Spotting is so scary. Are you going in weekly? @hopefuljj- beta tomorrow?! Omg I’m so excited and sending you allll the positive vibes! Were you able to hold off on testing?!

Looks like another chemical. HCG was 7.6 and so I go back on Monday, they told me to brace myself as it will likely be back down to 0.

Me: Hashimoto Autoimune DiseaseHomozygous MTHFR Cr677DOR - AMH .27 High FSH (don't even know how high)2 iui's to start - BFN IVF 1 -3 made it do day 5! 2 5AA 1 6BB PGS results = all abnormal IVF 2 - stimmed for 19 days. insanity. Had 5 follicles that looked mature but only 2 contained mature eggs the others were empty. Nothing made it to day 5IVF 3 - added in HGH - 4 mature follicles (had some empties again) 3 made it to day 5/6 for PGS (held for testing with next retrievalIVF 4 - Upped my dosage for the first time - Canceled 11 days into sims - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 5 - Canceled - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 6 - 3 mature, 2 fertalized 1 made it to day 5 and sent for PGS

Sent in IVF round 3 and 6 (4 embryos) for PGS testing and got 2 normal embryos!!! 1Boy and 1Girl. Took a little over a year to get those two embryos so demanded all sorts of test prior to attempting transfer. Did EFT, ERA and NK Cells testing.

FET#1 - Intralipid drips, Prednisone, and did a depot lupron shot before starting the FET protocolChemical pregnancyFET#2 - PGS normal boy - BFNNatural pregnancy - cycle following the FET2???? Miscarriage at 8 weeks. viability scan had shown an enlarged yolk sac so I had been warned that it was likely not chromosonally normal

@hopefuljj gosh darn it. I was so so rooting for you. I’m sure you’re feeling a whirlwind of emotions and I know you’ve heard “I’m sorry” like a billion times so please just know we all care for you. For me planning my next move is what helps to get past the hard part. Have you started thinking about your next transfer or are you going to wait a little while? You have three frosties right?? Whatever you decide to do we can’t wait to support you through it!

@hopefuljj- I’m sorry of course but I am also just PISSED!! You deserve this so much and this is bullshit. Like seriously, you have waited so long and have gone to DE, this should NOT happen!! I know I can’t do anything to help, but I would seriously do anything. Please reach out to me on fb if you need to chat. My first DE transfer didn’t work and it was beyond devastating. I wanted to give up but obviously didn’t. Now I now that Elliott was the one meant for me. Your baby IS coming!

@hopefuljj - Yup, I second what JamieH2000 says. I remember last year both JamieH2000 and another friend on our DE board did not have success on their first transfers, and had to regroup and try again. It was shocking to all of us rooting for those ladies because I think we were all assuming DE transfers were a sure thing, which is just not the case. Then low and behold, both of their second transfers worked. Obviously this is total BS and I'm sure you are just devastated right now, but please don't lose hope. Sending a big hug your way. I'll be interested to see what your RE says about next steps.

@c-town18. WOW! This is really so smart and inspiring and you are so right! Finding a donor who I look at them as someone I would want to be friends with, rather than looking for someone just like me. Thank you so much for this. I really really appreciate your insight!!

Levels of LH/FSH went down enough to start my next cycle. Two days of lupron/HGH under my belt and started gonal f and menopur today. I feel like a pincushion and am trying to be hopeful with mixed success. Thinking of you and hoping/praying for the best @hopefuljj and @emmasemm (hopefully the bed rest will alleviate the bleeding and all will stabilize!)

@hopefuljj wish I could send you some hugs across the Atlantic. If you fancy just escaping for a few weeks you are welcome to come and hide out here!

@lucyb1954 hallelujah for getting started! When is your first monitoring appointment?

AFM TW of course for PG

Weekly update today, LO perfectly on track at 9+3 and doing backflips like crazy. Adeno has not grown so that’s good too, but also not shrunk. Back on Monday for next check and our Harmony draw.I’m still on restricted activities and because of this today I told my boss! Swore him to secrecy. And he agreed the modifications I wanted to make so that I can keep working without risking LO. Home office when possible, feet up all day when in the office, no longer walks around the site, no travel and no late nights or dinners. Let’s see how it goes over the next days!Right now my anxiety is great, but I know within 2 days of each appointment I’m worried things have gone wrong, and then in the 24 hours before the next appointment I get really scared about not seeing a HB. I think this will probably stay with me the entire time it seems, but for today I’ll take the day of feeling good

@emmasemm that seems like the only reasonable way to get through all of this! Just take the good days for what they are and keep putting one foot in front of the other 🤓 I don’t feel too bad on stims right now, a little woozy today. I was feeling pretty good yesterday but I have my first bloodwork tomorrow and am getting in incredibly nervous and scared. Just trying to breathe and get some work done with varying degrees of success. I’m glad your boss was good about the modifications. It seems like you have a pretty active but it’s good you can still get stuff done from home.

Hi @hopefulmom&nbsp; the first work up at my clinic is bloodwork on day 4 of stims. Today is my 6th day of stims and just went in for a US. so far only two follies measured on each ovary, 1 at 6.5 and 1 at 8.8. Last time I don’t think I had any over 6 so maybe that’s progress? Right before stims they saw AFC of 12 total. Nurse said there were a few more she didn’t measure because they were less than 6 😔

@lucyb1954 I don’t think bleeding is expected on Lupron, I didn’t have any. What dose do they have you on? Maybe it needs to be a little higher? I stayed on 20 through stims but I know a lot of people drop to 10

@lucyb1954 I had bleeding on depot Lupron which is the same as Lupron but long acting. 1 shot lasts for 1 month. It was pretty significant and freaked me out. My doctor said it was breakthrough bleeding from having a persistently thin lining? But I also got breakthrough bleeding in half of my atom cycles when I was just on follistim and menupur. I’m just a breakthrough bleeder when doing ART I guess. I also didn’t have much of an estrogen rise until much later into my stim cycles.

Me: Hashimoto Autoimune DiseaseHomozygous MTHFR Cr677DOR - AMH .27 High FSH (don't even know how high)2 iui's to start - BFN IVF 1 -3 made it do day 5! 2 5AA 1 6BB PGS results = all abnormal IVF 2 - stimmed for 19 days. insanity. Had 5 follicles that looked mature but only 2 contained mature eggs the others were empty. Nothing made it to day 5IVF 3 - added in HGH - 4 mature follicles (had some empties again) 3 made it to day 5/6 for PGS (held for testing with next retrievalIVF 4 - Upped my dosage for the first time - Canceled 11 days into sims - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 5 - Canceled - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 6 - 3 mature, 2 fertalized 1 made it to day 5 and sent for PGS

Sent in IVF round 3 and 6 (4 embryos) for PGS testing and got 2 normal embryos!!! 1Boy and 1Girl. Took a little over a year to get those two embryos so demanded all sorts of test prior to attempting transfer. Did EFT, ERA and NK Cells testing.

FET#1 - Intralipid drips, Prednisone, and did a depot lupron shot before starting the FET protocolChemical pregnancyFET#2 - PGS normal boy - BFNNatural pregnancy - cycle following the FET2???? Miscarriage at 8 weeks. viability scan had shown an enlarged yolk sac so I had been warned that it was likely not chromosonally normal

Me: Hashimoto Autoimune DiseaseHomozygous MTHFR Cr677DOR - AMH .27 High FSH (don't even know how high)2 iui's to start - BFN IVF 1 -3 made it do day 5! 2 5AA 1 6BB PGS results = all abnormal IVF 2 - stimmed for 19 days. insanity. Had 5 follicles that looked mature but only 2 contained mature eggs the others were empty. Nothing made it to day 5IVF 3 - added in HGH - 4 mature follicles (had some empties again) 3 made it to day 5/6 for PGS (held for testing with next retrievalIVF 4 - Upped my dosage for the first time - Canceled 11 days into sims - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 5 - Canceled - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 6 - 3 mature, 2 fertalized 1 made it to day 5 and sent for PGS

Sent in IVF round 3 and 6 (4 embryos) for PGS testing and got 2 normal embryos!!! 1Boy and 1Girl. Took a little over a year to get those two embryos so demanded all sorts of test prior to attempting transfer. Did EFT, ERA and NK Cells testing.

FET#1 - Intralipid drips, Prednisone, and did a depot lupron shot before starting the FET protocolChemical pregnancyFET#2 - PGS normal boy - BFNNatural pregnancy - cycle following the FET2???? Miscarriage at 8 weeks. viability scan had shown an enlarged yolk sac so I had been warned that it was likely not chromosonally normal

Thanks @emmasemm and @hopefuljj. I called my clinic and they said it was normal when the lining is getting a bit thicker (it was about 8mm yesterday). So maybe it’s a good thing and it’s thickening more? Idk.

For my cycle I’ve been on 20 units lupron both AM and PM. I’m currently on menopur 2 vials and follistim 375. At first I was on 300 of follistim but it seems like my body didn’t kick into gear until it was upped. Are these max stims? That’s what my doctor said but I wasn’t sure as she tends to be more conservative.

Estradiol was only at 35 yesterday (day 6 of stims) so I don’t know what’s going to happen with this cycle but at least something is happening!

@lucyb1954 I think @hopeful_mom did even higher stims, but around 300-400 fsh is typical for high doseHope your estrogen starts to rise soon!

@hopefuljj results take 5-8 working days, but DH is away end of next week so we have an appointment in 2 weeks for the results. I also didn’t want them to phone me at a random time at work with the results. DH already said he knows I’m going to be very stressed before that appointment!

Rest of Update in spoiler for TW

Cost for Harmony was only 200 euro so that was a pleasant surprise! As is policy, you have to have an US immediately before to make sure you still have a HB. As normal I was on edge before that. But all was well. So two pics from today also in the US thread. It’s amazing how much it has grown since last week already. Now 3.6cm, we saw not only the limbs but both hands and feet today. It’s hands were up near its face, like it was about to enter the boxing ring. Like always, after 20 seconds or so of the US it starts to dance like crazy.

DH was soooooo excited as he missed the last two US.

Adeno was unchanged. But weight still dropping and blood pressure now high! So my newest gadget is a BP monitor and I have to do it twice a day...

@emmasemm I’m so happy to hear about your progress! Well not the BP part of course but just that things are on track. And2 weeks without an US...need any Netflix recommendations? Puzzles? Hopefully you can find some good distractions.

AFM went for another US today. Had 6 follies going at 5, 6, 6, 8, 9, 10 and lining at 8.5. Still waiting on E2 results but I’m hopeful that my ovaries are starting to wake up! I’m still steadily bleeding, at a light level. I’m not doing a fresh transfer so they’re not terribly worried but perhaps it might also be caused by the lack of a period for so long before stims with the cysts etc.

this is my 9th day of stims and I hope I get to continue for this cycle even though things are moving more slowly than they’d hoped. I don’t know at which point they cancel- it was pretty obvious we should cancel last time but hopefully...

@hopefuljj I’ve been thinking about you and keeping you in my heart ❤️

@Imajin99 I’m tentatively hopeful! Trying not to get too ahead of myself in case they stop growing. My E2 is still weirdly low at 110 so hopefully that will take off soon. Doctor wants me back tomorrow to check in and we’re planning on stimming 4 more days for a total of 13 days of stims. How are you doing?

Another scan today (day 11 of stims) and follies are at 3, 6, 8, 8, 11, and 14 with lining at 8.6. Slow and steady, I suppose I was really hoping for all of them to take off! Nervous about the E2 levels but I won’t get those until later today 😬

Ok! Well this is certainly progress!!! You still have a few below 10 so the E2 levels will reflect that, but they are growing!

Me: Hashimoto Autoimune DiseaseHomozygous MTHFR Cr677DOR - AMH .27 High FSH (don't even know how high)2 iui's to start - BFN IVF 1 -3 made it do day 5! 2 5AA 1 6BB PGS results = all abnormal IVF 2 - stimmed for 19 days. insanity. Had 5 follicles that looked mature but only 2 contained mature eggs the others were empty. Nothing made it to day 5IVF 3 - added in HGH - 4 mature follicles (had some empties again) 3 made it to day 5/6 for PGS (held for testing with next retrievalIVF 4 - Upped my dosage for the first time - Canceled 11 days into sims - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 5 - Canceled - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 6 - 3 mature, 2 fertalized 1 made it to day 5 and sent for PGS

Sent in IVF round 3 and 6 (4 embryos) for PGS testing and got 2 normal embryos!!! 1Boy and 1Girl. Took a little over a year to get those two embryos so demanded all sorts of test prior to attempting transfer. Did EFT, ERA and NK Cells testing.

FET#1 - Intralipid drips, Prednisone, and did a depot lupron shot before starting the FET protocolChemical pregnancyFET#2 - PGS normal boy - BFNNatural pregnancy - cycle following the FET2???? Miscarriage at 8 weeks. viability scan had shown an enlarged yolk sac so I had been warned that it was likely not chromosonally normal

Yup progress not perfection! At today’s US I had follies at 7,7, 8,9, 14, 14. Not taking off like I’d hoped 😑 but still getting there. Praying some others catch up and they’re good quality. At this point feeling a lot of anxiety about the next steps but at least we’ll know more information. If they’re crappy quality then we do our next options. And of course a friend of mine just conceived naturally at 42.. happy for her but also jealous as hell

@lucyb1954 wow. Why does it always feel like someone is defying the odds while we are always on the loosing end of them? I totally understand what you mean about your friend. You can be happy for her and also feel really deeply sad for yourself. It totally sucks. When do you go back in?? Sending my best grow evenly and healthy vibes to your follicles!

Me: Hashimoto Autoimune DiseaseHomozygous MTHFR Cr677DOR - AMH .27 High FSH (don't even know how high)2 iui's to start - BFN IVF 1 -3 made it do day 5! 2 5AA 1 6BB PGS results = all abnormal IVF 2 - stimmed for 19 days. insanity. Had 5 follicles that looked mature but only 2 contained mature eggs the others were empty. Nothing made it to day 5IVF 3 - added in HGH - 4 mature follicles (had some empties again) 3 made it to day 5/6 for PGS (held for testing with next retrievalIVF 4 - Upped my dosage for the first time - Canceled 11 days into sims - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 5 - Canceled - looked like 1 follicle and we were afraid it was emptyIVF 6 - 3 mature, 2 fertalized 1 made it to day 5 and sent for PGS

Sent in IVF round 3 and 6 (4 embryos) for PGS testing and got 2 normal embryos!!! 1Boy and 1Girl. Took a little over a year to get those two embryos so demanded all sorts of test prior to attempting transfer. Did EFT, ERA and NK Cells testing.

FET#1 - Intralipid drips, Prednisone, and did a depot lupron shot before starting the FET protocolChemical pregnancyFET#2 - PGS normal boy - BFNNatural pregnancy - cycle following the FET2???? Miscarriage at 8 weeks. viability scan had shown an enlarged yolk sac so I had been warned that it was likely not chromosonally normal

@hopefuljj I went back in today. E2 is up to 400 so that’s good but the nurse at the weekend clinic was both bitchy and couldn’t figure out how to get me a print out of the report 🙄🙄🙄 lining was at 12.6 which is up 3 from the last check so hopefully things are moving along. All I remember about the follies is that one is at 16. I told her I had 2 at 14 last check and she asked me if I was reading the numbers wrong 🤦‍♀️🙄 I’ll be stimming at least through Monday I think because I go back in Monday. Trying to remain hopeful! Thanks for the support ❤️ It’s hard when it gets to be so easy for everyone else and they really have no idea how this feels. Turning 38 on Monday... really hoping this is my magic year!

@lucyb1954 oh so relieved your estrogen is finally rising! So 400 would probably mean there are 2-3 of them growing along a bit bigger now. And as they grow 1-2mm at this stage that you’ve gone from 14 to 16 as your biggest sounds perfect!One thing I would suggest is don’t just let them trigger you too early - make sure they are sure the eggs in there will be far enough along to mature with the trigger when you do it. I’m really hopeful you will get to retrieval - and that will give you so much more information finally!Sending all the growing vibes to your follies!

AFM now 11+1 (how on earth did that happen?) and not so patiently waiting for the Harmony results and next US in 9 days!